County withdraws Kahana well petition; commission takes public testimony in Lahaina

The Commission on Water Resource Management met in Lahaina on April 28, 2025, to receive public comment after the County of Maui withdrew a declaratory petition asking the commission to rule that a recently constructed Kahana Well need not obtain a water use permit. Deputy Director Kira Kamalhane told the commission the County of Maui asked that its petition be withdrawn and staff had posted that withdrawal online; the agenda item was handled as an informational briefing and no action was taken.

The matter drew large public attendance and extended testimony. "That language ... should be stricken from this submittal," Deputy Director Kira Kamalhane said on the record when correcting an error in the staff submittal. Commissioners and staff emphasized they would accept public comments although the commission would not take action on B‑1 because the applicant had withdrawn the request.

Why it matters: The County of Maui sought a declaratory ruling to treat Kahana Well as an existing use so that it would not need a water use permit despite Lahaina being a designated surface and groundwater management area. Testimony from students, residents and advocacy groups warned that further groundwater…